Sewer Superintendent

Chatham County, GA; Savannah (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Chatham County, GA seeks an experienced wastewater leader to supervise Public Works operations, manage contractors, and drive capital projects. You will coordinate emergency responses, oversee asset tracking in OpenGov, and ensure compliance with environmental and safety regulations.

This role requires solid supervisory experience, strong project management, and the ability to interface with engineers and vendors. On-site presence in Savannah, GA is expected.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or higher with relevant wastewater operations training.
• Experience supervising public works or engineering operations teams.
• Strong knowledge of OpenGov asset management and GIS tools.
• Ability to coordinate contractors, budgets, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversees external contractors for sewer maintenance and major rehabilitations.
• Coordinates emergency contractor mobilization during outages or failures.
• Drafts specifications and RFPs; reviews invoices and change orders.
• Monitors field work to ensure standards and contractual obligations.
• Directs preventive maintenance and lift station operations.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Contract management

Emergency response coordination

Team supervision

Education

Associate degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management

Technical wastewater collection training

Valid driver’s license

State Water Collection System Operator Certification

Tools

OpenGov

GIS mapping software

SCADA/telemetry platforms

Job description

Take the next step in your career by applying for this exciting leadership opportunity in Public Works. If you are an experienced wastewater professional with strong leadership, technical, and project management skills, we encourage you to apply and become an important part of our team!

Contract Management & Oversight

• Manages, evaluates, and oversees external contractors hired for specialized maintenance (e.g., large-scale cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining, major main replacements, and complex lift station overhauls).
• Coordinates immediate mobilization of emergency repair contractors during catastrophic system failures, line breaks, or structural collapses.
• Drafts technical specifications and scopes of work for Request for Proposals (RFPs) and bidding documents.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for contractors in the field, ensuring all work matches municipal engineering standards and contractual obligations.
• Reviews, verifies, and approves contractor invoices, change orders, and project timelines before submitting them to the Public Works Director.

Asset Management & Service Tracking (OpenGov)

• Utilizes OpenGov software daily to track, document, and schedule all system maintenance activities, asset conditions, and work orders.
• Monitors, assigns, and resolves citizen requests for services and system work orders within the OpenGov platform.
• Leverages OpenGov data to generate operational reports, identify recurring infrastructure issues, and justify capital improvement needs to the Public Works Director.

Emergency Response Requirements

• Routine Emergencies: Must respond via phone within 15 minutes and arrive on-site within 45 minutes of notification during off-hours.
• Contractor Mobilization: Must coordinate and establish contact with emergency repair contractors within 30 minutes of verifying a major system failure.
• On-Site Command: Must remain on-site or establish an incident command post until the emergency repair contractor has mitigated the immediate hazard.

Departmental Management & Reporting

• Reports operational updates, contractor performance, budgetary variances, and infrastructure needs regularly to the Public Works Director.
• Assists the Public Works Director in developing, implementing, and monitoring the annual division budget and capital improvement plans.
• Collaborates with the Public Works Director and consulting engineers to review plans for system expansions or private development tie-ins.

System Operations & Maintenance

• Directs routine in-house preventive maintenance programs, including hydro-jetting, mechanical rodding, and CCTV inspections.
• Manages the operations, monitoring, and mechanical repair of all municipal lift stations.
• Leads immediate emergency response operations for system blockages, line breaks, and equipment failures.

Regulatory Compliance & Safety

• Maintains compliance with EPA and state environmental regulations for wastewater collection.
• Implements the Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance (CMOM) program.
• Investigates, documents, and reports Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) to regulatory bodies and the Public Works Director.
• Enforces safety protocols, including confined space entry, trench shoring, and traffic control, ensuring both staff and active contractors follow OSHA regulations.

Personnel Supervision

• Supervises, schedules, and trains the collection system crew, equipment operators, and technicians.
• Conducts performance evaluations and coordinates employee development with the Public Works Director.

• Associate Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field, and
• Technical training in wastewater collection, hydraulics, or construction management; and
• Three (3) or more years of experience in Public Works, Solid Waste Management, Construction Management, or Engineering operations, including supervisory experience; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must possess a State Water Collection System Operator Certification OR be able to obtain certification within a specified timeframe.
• Must be proficient with OpenGov software (or similar enterprise asset management systems), GIS mapping software, and lift station telemetry/SCADA platforms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Six (6) or more years of experience in wastewater collection system maintenance and operation, including supervisory experience, in Public Works, Construction Management, or Engineering operations.
• Experience managing municipal contractors or public works construction projects.
• Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL)